Dissension in the Church (Dissidium in Ecclesia) by Hendrick Goltzius

In the center of a Renaissance church, Cain raises a heavy jawbone to strike his brother Abel, who lies defenseless on the floor. An intricate architectural frame surrounds this scene, containing circular emblems of animals and a skull, alongside numbered vignettes depicting other biblical conflicts like Saul attacking David. The borders are filled with Latin scriptural citations that compare these ancient violent acts to contemporary divisions within the Christian church.

Created during the Dutch Revolt, this work reflects the irenic philosophy of the humanist Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert, who influenced Goltzius's circle; it uses biblical typology to critique religious intolerance and the 'dissension' of the period. The inclusion of emblematic imagery connects it to the Renaissance tradition of using visual puzzles to convey complex moral and Neoplatonic truths about the human condition.

Inscriptions(Latin)

DISSIDIUM IN ECCLESIA. Cōsurrexit Cain aduersus frēm suū Abel, et ittefecit eu. Gen. 4.8. 5. Qui cōgregati aduersus eū, miserūt lapides iuxta regis iperium, in atrio dom? Dni. 2. Para. 24.21 2. Cumque uidisset Sara filium Aegar Aegiptiæ ludentē cū Isaac filio suo. Gen. 21. 9. 6. Ob hanc causem occidit eū, hoc est Jehū filiū Hanani prophetam. 3. Reg. 16. 7. 3. Vidētes autem frs eius, quod a patre plus cūctis filijs amaret, oderūt eū. Ge. 37. 4. 7. Et percußit Phaßur Jerimiā prophetā, et misit eū in neruum. Jeremiæ. 20. 2. 4. Nisus est Saul configere Dauid lancea in pariete. 1. Regum. 19. 10. Lucæ. 12. 45. Et cœperit percutere seruos et ancillas, et edere, et bibere, et inebriari. 8. Fur non uenit nisi ut furetur et mactet et perdat. Lucæ 10. 10. Sed quomodo tunc is qui secundū carnem natus fuerat, persequebatū eū qui secūdū spiritū: ita et nunc. Galat. 4. 29. Sed uenit hora, ut omnis qui interficit uos arbitretur obsequium se p[rae]stare Deo. Joan. 16. 2.

Translation

DISSENSION IN THE CHURCH.
Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Gen. 4.8.

5. Who gathered against him, and stoned him by the king's command in the court of the house of the Lord. 2 Chron. 24.21

2. And when Sarah had seen the son of Hagar the Egyptian playing with Isaac her son. Gen. 21.9.

6. For this cause he killed him, that is Jehu the son of Hanani the prophet. 1 Kings 16.7.

3. And his brothers seeing that he was loved by his father more than all his sons, they hated him. Gen. 37.4.

7. And Pashur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks. Jeremiah 20.2.

4. Saul endeavored to nail David to the wall with his spear. 1 Kings 19.10.

Luke 12.45. And shall begin to strike the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and to drink and be drunk. 8.

The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy. John 10.10. But as then he that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now. Gal. 4.29. But the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth a service to God. John 16.2.

Dissension in the Church (Dissidium in Ecclesia)

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